Door-latch



a. W. Hon.

DOOR LATCH.

APPLlcnloN FILED ocT. 2s, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1| l'ywz'or ANNO/V W HOLT Patented Aug. 16, 1921.

1/55/ Vlr /Qfornpg Patented Aug'.4 16, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` -sr-Arfs PATENT OFFICE.

ANNON w. noun or Menomonie, wisconsin.`

y noon-LATCH.

To aZZfwhof/n, t may concern:

Be it known that I, ANNoN W. HoLfr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Menomonie, in the county of Dunn and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door- Latches'; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and`exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to'which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to door latches of the type having a sprin projected latch bolt that will -automatical y interlock with alatch plate on a door frame when a door is closed, and thatmay be released from the vlatch plate by a shaft operative on a tumbler for the latch bolt and having an operating knob at each side of the door. The object of my invention is to render the shaftof such a latch operative and inoperative on'the tumbler, at will, so that when the door is closed, it cannot be opened from the outside'by turning the respective knob. The improved latch is especially adapted for use on bathroom doors or\other doors that are simply latched for the sake of convenience.

To the above end, generally stated, the invention consists of the noveldevices and combinations of devices hereinafter de- )scribed and defined in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters indicate like parts throughout the sevl with the exception that the knob-equipped operating shaft is moved into position to release the tumbler; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the operating shaft and interlocked with the tumbler; as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the operating shaft released from the tumbler, as

shown in Fig. 2; l

Fig. 5 is a modificationshowing a different means for limiting the endwi'se vmovement of the operating shaft;

1s a view corresponding to Fig.` 5

provided with a mortise latch 15.

`speeicamn of Lettersratet. Patented Aug-16', 1921.'A y

applieatiun'lea october 2e, 1920. serial No; 419,674.

with the exception that the operating shaft y is moved into positionto release the tumbler Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig.

with the exception that the invention is designed for a door 'hinged to swing inward;

' Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 7 with the exception that the knobs-equipped operating shaft is latched' against turning movement `Figi) is a perspective view of the inside knob shown in Figs. 7 and 8; 1

Fig. 10 is a modification of the invention as shown in Figs. 7 and 9 designed for use in connection with a door hinged'to swing hinged for outward swinging movement and I I This latch 15 is provided w'iththe customary sleeve-like latch bolt actuating tumbler -16 having an axial passageway that is square in crosssection to receive the correspondshaft. Formed 'with the tumbler 16 are the vinglyv formed knob-equipped. operating ordinary oppositely projecting latch bolt` operating lugs 17 and which tumbler is yieldingly held in an'intermediate position by a spring, not shown. the latch bolt of such a latch is spring projected and arranged to be cammed into'a retracted position by engagement with a latch plate during the closing movement of a door, without turning the knob-equipped operating shaft. To retract the latch bolt, it is necessary to turn the knob-equipped shaft and thereby cause a turning movement of the tumbler 16 and its lug 17. The parts thus far described., are of standard and well known construction. 4

The tumbler 16 is held in the latch casing against axial movement but free toturn by As is .well known,

cooperating flanges 18 on said tumbler and l latch casing. Secured to.each side ofthe 4Anvoperating Ashaft 21 for the tumbler 16, is mounted therein, for endwise"sliding movement and provided with.A inner and outer end sections 22 and 23, respectively, and an intermediate section 24. The shaft end sections 22 and 23 are squarein crosssection and the intermediate shaft section Y -24 is round in cross-section and, 'of such flength when the shaft 21 is adjusted, as

shownvin Fig` 2, to'freely rotate inthe tumbler 16. o the shaft section 21 is secured a collar 25 arranged ,to permit saidv shaft to be adjusted endwise'to carry a por- I tion of the shaft section 22 into the tum bler 16 and thereby latch said shaft to the tumbler for rotation therewith, as shown in Fig'. 1. Thisv collar 25 affords a stop arranged tofengage the tumbler 16 to limit the endwise movement ofthe shaft. section 22 into said tumbler, as shown in Fig.` 1,

and to engage the adjacent escutcheonl socket 20 to position the round shaft\sec tion 24 inthe tumbler 16 for freerotation therewith. .Q I

Inside and 'outsideho'llowknobs 26' and '27,=.rspectively, having hubs 28 and 29, respectively, are connected to the shaft 21, by providing said hubs with axial passageways that are square in cross-section, to receive the respective shaftl sections 22 and 23 for commonnrotation therewith. The 'ends vof the hubs'28 and 29 extend into the escutchi' een sockets 20, 'and the former of said lhubs is free for turning, andaxial movements and the, latter ofsaid Vhubs is free .'for turning movement, but held against axial movement, by forming thereon, an annular bead 30 held by'the convergingv walls 'of the vrespective escutcheon socket 20.

. The hub.28 is detachably secured to the -'shaft section 22 for axial` adjustments thereon, by a screw 31 arranged .to be `screwed into any one of a plurality of holes 32 in said 'shaft section. The shaft section 23 is releasably secured to the hub 29 by a yieldinglatch 33 in the form of a flat spring located in said hub and having pressed therefrom, a detent 34, arranged to enter either one of a pair of longitudinally spaced latch notches 35 formed in said -shaft section. The purpose` of providing' the shaft 21 with a pluralityof longitudinally spaced holes 32 and latch notches 35, is to' permit the latch to be appliedto doors of varying thicknesses. The latch 33 is 'arranged `to hold the shaft 21 adjusted with its section 22 interlocked with the tumbler 16 so that the said tumbler may be rotated by turning eitherof the knobs 26 or 27 to retractthe;

latch bolt, not shown.

To close the door 14, which, as reviously stated, is hinged to swingoutwar the same is pulled closed by the inside knob 26. The pull on the knob 26 during the closing movement of the door 14 will not be sufficient to overcome the spring 'latch 33 and release the shaft 21.` But'thepull on the knob 26 as the doory closes against the stop on the door frame, will be suiiicientto overcome the.v spring latch 33 and cam' the same out of engagement with the respective latch `notch 35, thus, releasing the shaft 21 so that the same is moved endwise, together with 4the knob 26, as shown in Fig. 2. In this position of the shaft 21, its round section 24 is brou ht. into complete registration `with the tum ler 16 so that the shaft 21 is free to turn in the tumbler 16, when operated by either of the knobs 26vand 27.

The door when thuslatched cannot be opened by operating the outside door knob 27 for the reason that it will simply turn in the respective escutcheon-v socket 20. To open the door from the inside, it is only necessary to press the knob 26 toward the door and thereby carry the shaft section 22 againV into linterlatching engagement with the tumbler 16. This movement of the knob 26 also automatically connectsv the shaft 21 to said knob bymoving the shaft 21 endwise to bring one ofy its latch notches 35 into a position where the latch 33 can again enterfthe same. Opening and closing the door 14'from the outside by means o the knob 27 does not, in anyway, affect the endwise position of the shaft 21', in 'respect' to the tumbler 16', for the reason that seid knob is latched against axial movement.

- n1 Case a @hud should nach 'the door 14" from the inside, various means may he provided whereby the shaft 21l may bemoved endwise to render the same operative on the tumbler 16.*. Fnrinstan'ce, an opening 36 may be formed in. the knobv 27 through which a button hook, a bent wire or other tool .may be inserted for interlatching engagement with a transverse hole 37 inthe shaft 21.- When the shaft 21 is thus caught by a tool, the same may be readily pulled into interlatching engagement with the tumbler 16.

Referring now to the construction show 'in Figs. 5 and 6, the stopvcollar 25 is dispensed with and the endwise movement of the shaft 21 is limited by providing the hub 28 withan annular iiange 38 which works in an annular escutcheon socket39, substituted for the inside escutcheon 20. Said escutcheon socket 39 is provided with an inc A tion, the shaft 21 is made square in cross-secviding means for latchingI both knobs 26 andl 27 against turning movement, in place of l ment of the knob 26 into a correspondingly l tion throughout.l itsentire length and is al- Waysinter-latched with the tumbler 16 and may be rendered inoperative, at will, by pro4- rendering the shaft 21 inoperative, in respect to the tumbler 16 as in the latches just described. To latch the knobs 26 and 274 against turning movement, the end of the hub 28 has formed thereon, a key 41 that is rectangular in cross-section and which key is adapted to be inserted by an axial move,-

formed key seat 42 formed in the respective escutcheon socket 20; asfshownin Fig. 8.

When the latch is adjusted, as shown in Fig. 7, the key 41 is out of the key seat 42 so that by turning either of the knobs 26 and 27, the shaft 21 may be rotated to operate the tumbler 16. When the door 14 is pushed closed by the knob 26, and said knob given a partial turn to bring its key 41 into alinement with the key seat 42, saidv Aknob 26 Will be moved axially and thereby carry the key 41 into the key seat 42, which locks .both of the knobs against turningl movement, as shown in Fig. 8. To open the door 14 When the latchis adjusted, as shown in Fig. 8, the initial pull on the knob 26 will move said knob axially and thereby carry the key 41 out' of the key seat 42 and thus release both of the knobs 26 and 27 for freeturning movement, to operatel the shaft 21, and hence, the tumbler 1 6'.

The construction shown in'Figs. 10,-11, 12 and 13, is the same as that shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, with theexception that thelatch is designed for use on doors that are hinged to swing outward. In this construction, the

-hub 28 is provided With an annular channel 43 adjacent to its kev 41' and when adjusted, as shown in Fig. 10, said channelregisters with the key seat 42 and permits the knobs 26 and 27 to be turned to operate the shaft 21, and hence, the tumbler 16. When thedoor is pulled closed by the knob 26 and said knob given a turn 'suflicient to bring the key 41 into registration with the key seat 42, said knob will move axially under the pull on theknob 26 and thereby carry its key 41 into the key seat 42 and thereby latch both of the knobs 26 and' 27 against turning movement, as shown in Fig.

11. To open the door when the latch is ad- -justed, as shown in Fig. 11, a pressure on said knob toward the door will carry the key 41 out of the key seat 42 and the channel into registration with the keyl seat 42, thereby releasing the knobs 26 and 27 turning movement.

What I claim is:

1. A latch having inner and outer operatfor free ing knobs, one of said knobs being movable axially toward and from the other to there.-v by-render the latter temporarily inoperative.

2. A latch having a-latch bolt operating tumbler, a shaft operating the tumbler, and knobs for turning the shaft, one of 'said knobs being svviveled and held against axial movement and the other of said knobs beingl secured to the shaft vfor moving the same axially to render the said shaft operative' and inoperative, at Will, on the tumbler.

3. A latch having a latch bolt operating tumbler, a shaft operating' the tumbler,

knobs for turning the shaft, one of said knobs beingsvviveled and held against axial movement and the other of said knobs being secured to the shaft for moving the same axially to render the said shaft operative and inoperative, at Will, on the tumbler, anda stop for positioning the shaft either in a operative or inoperative position.

4. A latch having a latch bolt operating tumbler, a shaft operating the tumbler, knobs for turning the shaft, .one ofsaid knobs being swiveled andheld against axial movement and the other of said knobs being secured tothe shaft for-moving the same axially to render the said shaft operative and inoperative, at will, on the tumbler, and releasable means for holding the shaft in an operative position. 5. A latch having a latch bolt operating tumbler, a shaft operating the tumbler, knobs for turning the shaft, one of said vknobs being .swiveled and held against axial movement and the other of said knobs being secured to the shaft for moving the same axially to render the said shaft operative and inoperative, at Will, on the tumbler, and a latch for releasably securing the shaft to the swiveled knob in an operative position.

6.- A latch having a latch bolt'operating tumbler, av shaft -operating said tumbler,

- knobs botlfrotatable with said shaft,`the one knob being swiveled and held against axial movements and the other knob being movable axially toward and from said swiveled knob;

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

ANNON W. HOLT. 

